Cesar Guajardo01
Position
Candidate for President
"Relationships and preparation are how we win before we ever sit down to negotiate."
LeadershipRelationshipsVision
This is campaign material prepared and distributed by the Clark Barkley, Cesar Guajardo & Michelle Quante Campaign Committee. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official publication of BRS Local 183.
A Team for Local 183
A New Vision
for Local 183
Represent
/Prepare
/Connect
Clark, Cesar, and Michelle are working together for the members of BRS Local 183 — and for the future of our union. Experienced leadership. Honest communication. A plan that starts today.
Election Day
August 11, 2026
Doors open from 5:00 PM
Where
Marrs Meyer American Legion Post #991
11001 S. Depot St., Worth, IL 60482
Can't Attend?
Vote by Mail
Request your absentee ballot today
The Team
Three leaders.
One direction.
A slate that brings experience, energy, and honest leadership to BRS Local 183. Together, they're ready to represent, prepare, and connect our members.
Clark Barkley02
Position
Candidate for General Chairman
"I've spent my life standing up for people and getting results. That's what I'll do for our members."
BackboneRepresentationCommitment
Michelle Quante03
Position
Candidate for Local Chairman
"You deserve leadership that isn't afraid to say what needs to be said — every step, no exceptions."
CommunicationEducationLong-Term Planning
Meet the Candidates
Who we are.
What we stand for.
Cesar Guajardo
Candidate for President
Leadership. Relationships. Vision.
Cesar Guajardo knows this railroad and the people who decide its future. He serves as the Illinois State Legislative Representative for the BRS and has spent years giving back to the community — volunteering with Operation Lifesaver, honoring the retirees who built this union, and supporting rail history and education through the museum car and historical displays. He lobbied for the transit funding bill that helps protect our jobs, and his relationships reach all the way to Springfield. Cesar believes a strong union is built between contracts — through preparation and connection, not just at the bargaining table.
"Relationships and preparation are how we win before we ever sit down to negotiate."
Clark Barkley
Candidate for General Chairman
Backbone. Representation. Commitment.
Clark Barkley is an Army veteran, a Metra signalman, and a father of three daughters. For nearly twenty years he's owned and run his own insurance business — which means he reads the fine print for a living. That's exactly what you want protecting your contract, and exactly who you want in your corner when your job is on the line and you're facing an investigation. His career has been built on responsibility and service, from his years as an EMT to standing up for the people he represents today. Clark doesn't sit back — he digs in.
"I've spent my life standing up for people and getting results. That's what I'll do for our members."
Michelle Quante
Candidate for Local Chairman
Communication. Education. Long-Term Planning.
Michelle Quante is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and a single mother of three who has never been afraid to use her voice for working people. When she spoke out on social media during the Long Island Rail Road strike, her message standing up for railroaders reached over 100,000 people. A trained improv performer, she's comfortable on any stage and in any room — and she's carried that same fearlessness onto the property, standing up to management and challenging safety leadership when others stayed quiet. She's running for Local Chairman to keep members informed, educated on their rights, and always represented by someone who will speak up.
"You deserve leadership that isn't afraid to say what needs to be said — every step, no exceptions."
Our Priorities
What we'll
deliver.
01 / 06
Better Communication
Keeping members informed and involved — clear updates, open channels, no more guessing what leadership is doing on your behalf.
02 / 06
More Member Participation
Removing the barriers that keep members from getting involved. Your voice belongs in this union — we'll make room for it.
03 / 06
Prepare for the Next Contract — Now
The next contract starts today, not six months before negotiations. We're organizing, gathering priorities, and preparing to fight.
04 / 06
Member Education
Know your rights, know the process, know your future. Informed members make a stronger union at the bargaining table.
05 / 06
Stronger Union Community
Family events, scholarships, member appreciation. Building the connections that make us more than a workplace — we're a brotherhood.
06 / 06
Transparency & Accountability
Honest communication and responsible leadership. Always accountable to you — the members who make Local 183.
How to Vote
Make your voice
count.
Election Day
Aug 11
2026 · Doors from 5PM
Location
Marrs Meyer American Legion Post #991
11001 S. Depot St.Worth, IL 60482Get Directions →
Can't Attend?
Vote by Mail
Request your absentee ballot as early as possible. If you'll be traveling, working, or unable to attend in person, mail-in voting keeps your voice heard.
Contact for Absentee Ballot
Matt Urban
urbanmelectric@gmail.com
Don't wait until the last minute — request your ballot today so it arrives in time.